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Norfolk Four Course Crop Rotation
Pioneered in the early 16th century, and popularized by Charles Townshend in the 18th century, the four course crop rotation involved cycling wheat, turnips, barley, and clover/ryegrass. This ensured larger amounts of manure since animals could now eat more crops and hence fertilize the soil. This would help future years yield more crops and became standard practice by the 19th century. -
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge advocates the potato
The Royal Society was a group of natural philosophers that originated around 1660. It was a learned society in the UK's national academy of science, that offered scientific advice for policy. Potatoes were introduced in the 1600s, and the Royal Society noted that potatoes are easily grown, only take 3-4 months to mature, produce more calories, and were able to thrive where wheat couldn't. Although skeptic at first, the public eventually adopted the potato after war famine, and encouragement. -
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Land Conversion, Drainage, and Reclamation Programs
Coinciding with the Agricultural Revolution, these programs aimed to make agriculture both more efficient and also more profitable. Reclamation and conversion involved making land that was once unproductive into land that could be better suited for agriculture. This was done through irrigation, drainage, fertilizer, and more. Furthermore, programs also aimed to recover submerged lands, and this made more land capable of use from agriculture. -
Charles “Turnip” Townsend
Charles Townshend lived from 1674-1738, and around 1700 introduced the use of the turnip in crop rotation. Turnips controlled weeds and also served as a significant forage crop for animals. This led to large-scale turnip cultivation in England, giving him his nickname. Outside of his contributions to the Agricultural Revolution, he also helped form the League of Hanover, which brought England, France, and Prussia into an alliance, and was an important diplomat. -
Jethro Tull and the Seed Drill
Jethro invented the horse-drawn mechanical seed drill in 1701, which was influential in the Agricultural Revolution as it made planting much more efficient. Prior to this, seeds were scattered and placed individually, which was both time consuming and also wasteful when seeds didn't plant. The seed drill stored the seed, moved it, and directed it. A row would be created with the drill and then the seeds would even be covered. Tull also created a horse-drawn hoe and hoe-plow. -
Dutch and Rotherham swing (wheel-less) plough
Joseph Folijambe patented the Rotherham Swing plough in 1730 which was local to Yorkshire but had Dutch influences in its design. It was different in its iron blade and that it was handled by two horses and a person. This drastically increased the efficiency of farming practices, making farming more affordable and hence increasing the profitability of farming. This design became very popular around this time period and catapulted into widespread use. -
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Arthur Young
Arthur was a leading agricultural writer that published the Farmer's Letters in 1767. He traveled England, Ireland, and France, commenting on farming practices and ultimately advocating for the plow, crop-rotation, enclosures, and more. In these travels, he observed economic conditions and politics as well. He was appointed the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture that furthered his goal of improving farming standards and allowed him to assist in preparing agricultural surveys. -
Robert Bakewell, Thomas Coke, and the development of Selective Breeding
Selective breeding was introduced during the Agricultural Revolution and it was a process where humans selectively developed particularly desirable traits in species. It contributed to the growth of agriculture. Specifically, Robert Bakewell and Thomas Coke were agriculturers known for sheep and cattle breeding using inbreeding. This stabilized certain qualities, increasing survivability and increasing the quality of meat in the animals. -
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Enclosure Acts
The majority of the Enclosure Acts were passed during this time period. These acts essentially consolidated land that was originally. Prior to this, villages shared land where it was used collectively. These acts ended this system, restricting land to one owner and hence setting the stage for the Agricultural Revolution and more. The government supported this by buying ground rights, passing laws, and forcefully enclosing lands. These acts did face resistance, yet governments would use force. -
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Development of a National Market
The late 18th Century and early 19th century saw the Industrial Revolution. Originating in Great Britain, it spread to the Americas, converting rural agrarian societies into those that were urban and industrialized. With this, a national market economy began to develop in the West, where crops and goods were transported across the nation and can be sold. Big business became dominant in certain regions and free markets became a well known reality.